Tongue and top reinforcement for shoes



L. L. BEAN.

TONGUE AND TOP REINFORCEMENT FOR SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, I920.

Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

avwamt'oz Bean.

Lem-1L itransrnrss Parent entice.

Lgyg ggg Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

Application flled'iiune 11, 1920. Serial-No. 388,294.

7 parts of the shoe to which'the tongue is at- To all whom it may comer n:

tached.

Be'it known that I, LnoN L. BEAN, a citizen of the United States, residin at Freeport, in the county of Cumberlan and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tongue and Top *Reinforcements for Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to the construction of boots and shoes and more particularly that type of shoe having the sole and vamp constructed of rubber and having a top made of leather or some such material.

' An object of the present invention is to provide an improved top structure which is made waterproof at the points where the tongue is secured to the vamp and between the side pieces of the top.

Another object is to provide an u per construction wherein chafing and brea ng of the threads is reduced to a minimum and practically eliminated.

. Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe of the tongue variety wherein is eliminated the excessive wearon the lower end of the tongue where it is stitched or otherwise secured to the vamp of the shoe, the ton es of shoes of necessity being of relative y thin material to permit the bunching or gathering together of the tongue as the shoe is laced and tightened, the novel construction admitting of this gathering together of the tongue and at the same time preventing the undue wear and wrinkling of the lower end of the tongue.

' A still further object of the invention is to provide an attachment or reinforcement of the tongue which is adapted to protect the lower end of-the tongue and to protect the stitchin by means of which the tongue is attached to the upper.

The above, and various other objects and advantages of this invention will be in part described in, and in part understood from, the following. detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawin wherein- %igure 1 is a perspective view of a shoe having the improvement of this invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the lower end. of the to g e and the adjacent Fig. 3 is a plan view of the lower end of the -tongue with the attachment of this invention applied thereto.

Referring to the drawing, 10 desi ates the sole of a shoe and 11 the vamp t ereof which may be constructed in any suitable manner. and of any desired material. In the present mstance the invention is shown as applied to a hunting shoe wherein the sole l0 and vamp 11 are integral and made of rubber.

The upper of the shoe is constructed in the usual manner of side pieces 12 and 13 of leather or the like which are secured at their lower edge portions by lines of stitching 14 to the vamp 11 and which are joined at the back of the shoe by a back stay 15.

The forward edge portions of the side pieces 12 and 13 are divided by lines ofreinorcing stitching 16 into strips 17 adapted to receive eyelets or the like through which laces or other fastening means may be .se-

cured for drawing together the front of the shoe top.

In the construction of shoe shown a tongue 19 is provided which is of less thickness than the side pieces 12 and 13 of the top and which is adapted to be athered or bunched in between the edge sgrip's 17 of the top when the latteris closed by the laces. The

tongue 19 is secured to the top by the lines of stitchlng 16 and the edges of the tongue constitute reinforcements or layers for in-v creasing the strength of the strips 17 and receivethe eyelets 18 therethrough. In this inanner the tongue 19 is secured to the shoe The lower portion of the tongue is secured by continuations of the rows of stitches 14 which extend across the forward part of the vamp 11 and which stitch the lower end of the tongue to the vamp. The stri s 17 of the top terminate above the rows 0 stitches 14, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and the tongue extends downwardly between the lower ends of the strips 17 where it is secured to the vamp 11. For the purposeof reinforcing the tongue and carrying out the various other objects of this invention, a reinforcing piece 20 is stitched to the outer side of the tongue 19 at the bottom thereof, and in plan is substantially triangular in shape and is lid ltti

secured to the tongue with the apex or point thereof directed upwardly so as to 'prov1de a substantially \l-shaped reinforcement which decreases in width toward its upper end.

The lower end of the reinforcing piece extends beyond the strilps 17 of the top and is'provided with latera y extendingears or projections 21ada ted to fit snugl beneath the lower ends of t e strips 17 an to be engaged by the rows of stitching 1 and secured thereby against the outer sides of the sections 12 and 13 of the up er.

The piece 20 is preferab y of relatively heavy material, and may be made of the same material as are the sections 12 and 13. The lower end of the tongue is exposed, and by providing the reinforcing strip 20 of the same materlal as the shoe top, the tongue will conform in color and general appearance to the remainderof the shoe top as well as lending strength and ri 'dity to the lower end of the tongue where y the stitches 14 will be protected and a neat closing of the shoe may be efiected.

The tongue proper, 19, may be of any Suitable material and may be of an desired color as the tongue 19 is not visi le when the shoe is drawn tightly into closed osition so that the only exposed part 0 the tongue is the reinforcing piece 20. The rein forcing piece 20, being of upwardly tapering form, admits of the ready gathenng together of the side portions o t e tongue 19 so that the shoe may be easily closed without interference and at the same time the lower part of the tongue will be held smooth and from breaking away from the vamp 11. The ears or projections 21, in overlapping the side sections or parts 12 and. 13, seal the lower end of the tongue to the vamp and sides and prevent the working in of snow and moisture, so as to provide a shoe top which is substantially sealed and which keeps the foot dry and warm. 1

The advantages of the reinforcing piece '20 are apparent for a less expensive tongue may be used to properly fulfil the function re uired, and the tongue 19 may be made 0 any suitablejmaterial other than the material from which the shoe to is made. Thereinforcing piece also hol the front of the shoe top at and seals it; Zectively against moisture.

The laterally extending ears of the rein forcement also serve as means for strengthening the forward edges of the top to prevent the same from pulling away from the teases.

vamp and also from wrinkling and chafin the stitching between the vamp, the top an the tongue.

It is, of course, understood that various chan es and modifications may be made in the etails of construction and desi above specifically described embod1ment of of the the invention without departin from the trons bein the following claims.

What is claimed is:-

vamp, sides, and a tongue, of a reinforcing piece having lateral ears, said piece stitche to the bottom of said tongue and vamp, the.

lateral ears overlying the sides and stitched thereto, to permit the forward ends of said sides to overlie the tongue throughout its length.

2. In a shoe, the combination :with a vamp, a top'and a tongue, of a reinforcing piece secured oven the lower end of the tongue andtapering upwardly to hold the lower end of the tongue fiat,when;the fori I ward edges of the top'are drawn together, said reinforcing plece having at its lower end laterall the forwar extendin edges 0 the to and stitched thereto with the to to said e 0e vamp. v 1

3. In a shoe, t e combination with a vamp, a .top and a tongue secured at its lateraledges to the forward ed s of the top and at its lower end secure as ears secured beneath with the t top to the edge of the vamp, of a reinforci ing piece of substantiallytriangular' form secured over the lower end ohthe tongue by said stitches and ta ering upwardly to hold the lower end of t ongue flat when the forward edges. of ,the-top are drawn .to-

gether, said reinforcing piece having lateral extensions secured by said stitches hen the forward edges of the top and against the outer side of the latter whereby to seal the reinforcing piece against the forward portion of the top.

- 4.111 a shoe, the

combination with r a vamp, a top stitched thereto, and a tongue arrangedbetween the forward edges of the top and stitched at its lower end to the ram of a reinforcing piece secured by said stltc es overthe forward face of the tongue -,and extending laterally beneath the forward edges of the top and having laterally extending ears projecting beneath said forward edges of the top and secured by said stitches against the outer side of the to v LEON L. BEA 

